Starbucks swaps plastic cups for paper at select stores - EHN

Starbucks has begun replacing plastic cups with paper ones at hundreds of U.S. locations, a move environmental groups say signals the company’s admission that its plastic cups are not truly recyclable.

Joseph Winters reports for Grist.

In short:

Key quote:

“This is a clear admission that polypropylene cups are not recyclable.”

— Jan Dell, chemical engineer and founder of The Last Beach Cleanup

Why this matters:

Plastic waste remains a major environmental challenge, with most single-use plastics ending up in landfills or being burned. Despite labeling, many plastic items marketed as recyclable are not actually processed due to infrastructure limitations and contamination. Starbucks' move reflects growing pressure on corporations to address misleading recycling claims and shift toward more sustainable packaging. However, even alternatives like paper cups lined with bioplastics raise questions about long-term environmental impacts.

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